Hearing Tuesday on funding for new senior center in Middletown

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, June 14, 2011

MIDDLETOWN - Middletown residents will have an opportunity to share their thoughts about senior center funding at a public hearing slated for Tuesday evening.

At the hearing, the Common Council will hear comments about a proposed $750,000 bond ordinance to fund the Eckersley Hall building project.

The town purchased the building on Durant Terrace, the former St. Sebastian School, earlier this year with the intention of turning it into a senior center and municipal offices.

The total cost of the construction project is estimated around $1.5 million, though, Eckersley Hall Building Committee Chairman Ron Klattenberg pointed out Monday, the committee can't determine the final cost until it chooses an architect later this summer.

Last week, he said, the committee hosted 35 different architectural at the building to take a tour. Proposals for the project are due at the end of July, he said, and the committee will narrow their choices down to choose a firm. If everything goes on schedule, he said, construction work could start by the end of September.

The $750,000 bond being considered on Tuesday will be used for preliminary construction work, Klattenberg said, including making the building accessible for people with disabilities and installing the infrastructure needed for the senior center and offices.

"This bond is really dedicated to making the building suitable for use," he said.

Completing the project, Klattenberg said, will require funding from other sources. The city has some money available, he said, including a $190,000 federal grant and $38,000 left over from the city's current senior center.

"We're looking at different ways of funding to make it work," he said. "We're sort of still pulling together some funds."

Money is also coming in from charitable donations, Klattenberg said, after the city established a fund to help support the city's seniors. ReMax realtors held a golf fundraiser in May to raise money for the senior center and for Connecticut Children's Medical Center. The fundraiser raised a total of $2,800, half of which will go to the senior center.

"It's good for the senior center, it's good for ReMax, and it's certainly good for the fund," Klattenberg said. He added that he hoped the donation would open the doors for others who want to help improve facilities and programming for Middletown's seniors.

"It's the first and hopefully not the last," Klattenberg said.

Tuesday's hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 245 deKoven Dr.

Claire Michalewicz can be reached by email at cmichalewicz@middletownpress.com. Text MIDNEWS to 22700 to get news alerts directly to your cell phone. Standard messaging and data rates apply.